On Sunday, December 13, 2015, friends, family and colleagues of retiring IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman gathered at the Peoria Riverfront Museum to recognize the career and accomplishments of Dr. Hickman’s 25-year tenure at the IHSA.

Among those in attendance were State Representative Dan Brady and State Representative Mike Unes, who used the occasion to present Marty with a copy of House Resolution No. 878, which was offered by Representative Brady and approved by the 99th General Assembly of State of Illinois’ House of Representatives.

The text of House Resolution No. 878 is posted below:

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman is retiring from his position as Executive Director of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) after 25 years in Bloomington, where he led the IHSA as its Executive Director since 2002; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman is the sixth individual to hold the position of Executive Director in the IHSA's 100-plus year history; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman has dedicated his life to students in Illinois, having served as a teacher, coach, and principal during stops at Girard High School, Bluffs Junior-Senior High School, Westmer Secondary School, and Monmouth High School before joining the IHSA; and

WHEREAS, Under Marty Hickman's leadership, the IHSA expanded its participation opportunities to high school students in Illinois to include State tournaments in boys bowling, competitive cheerleading, competitive dance, journalism, and boys and girls water polo; the IHSA has also remained an innovator, becoming the first state high school association in the country to offer a bass fishing state tournament in 2011, and has become a technological leader in its field, launching the most extensive website of its kind and moving many operations online, which has saved high schools money and coaches and administrators time; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman has stressed the student in student-athlete, starting the Academic All-State Team to recognize and reward individuals who excel in both academics and extracurricular participation with college scholarships; he also started the IHSA Distinguished Service Award program to recognize the efforts of the volunteers around the State who are vital to the IHSA and its tournaments; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman has effectively managed the Association's finances, helping to eliminate the entry fees that are employed by many high school associations in the country, while also maintaining a balanced budget that has helped return millions of dollars to high schools in the State during his tenure; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman represented Illinois on a national level by serving on the Boards of the National Federation of State High School Associations and the National Association of Sports Officials; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman has served as an active member of many local boards and service clubs, including Kiwanis, Special Olympics Illinois, and the Peoria Riverfront Museum Board; he was also named a "Distinguished Alumnus" by Eastern Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman is a wonderful representation of the quality of education in Illinois, having graduated from New Berlin High School in New Berlin before earning degrees from Eastern Illinois University, the University of Illinois at Springfield, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; and

WHEREAS, Marty Hickman has been married to his loving wife, Nancy, for more than 30 years; together, they have 2 children, Adam and Alex; 2 daughters-in-law, Lynn and Kelly; and a grandchild, Cole, with another on the way; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Marty Hickman on the occasion of his retirement and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Marty Hickman as a symbol of our esteem and respect.